"I asked my assistant to get a few sets of clothing for Samantha and informed the lawyer of the bullying case you mentioned last night. We are still trying to secure statements from others to prove that Samantha has been constantly bullied for some time now. Don't worry, Miss Jiang. Lennox is bent on keeping Samantha safe from any more harm. As soon as he gets her custody from her mother, Samantha won't have to endure any of it anymore." Gavin said as he handed a few papers to Adrienne.
"That's very reassuring to hear. Myrtle and I wonder how Sam would fare once Lennox gains her custody. Now that you've mentioned it, I would like a thorough background check on the rest of the children. I want to know what I'm dealing with. It's not enough to know who has their custody, but we must also know their living conditions." Adrienne answered, her eyes quickly scanning the documents Gavin had prepared. She knew it wouldn't be easy to get Samantha's custody, and they should consider her safety and welfare. She wondered if Samantha should be transferred to another school as well.
"Lennox and I were surprised that you managed to track Samantha down this soon." The man before her commented. "You don't need to feel pressured, Miss Jiang. You can take your time finding the children. It's not like we're giving you a deadline."
"It's just pure luck that we stumbled upon her as she was being beaten up by her classmates. If it weren't for that incident, it would surely take time for me to find her."
Adrienne was pleased with how efficient Gavin was. The documents for giving up Samantha's custody to Lennox Qin were prepared in detail on short notice. She had only informed him about Samantha last night, but he had provided these important papers almost immediately.
She then returned her gaze to Gavin. "Would Lennox want to meet her soon? I do not know what to tell Samantha if she asks more questions."
"No, I don't think Lennox is well enough to meet her right now. I'm deciding it for him, so please don't blame Nox if I don't bring Samantha to meet him for the time being."
Adrienne nodded in understanding. She discovered that Lennox had recently had surgery when they first met. It made sense why the man was so cranky and would throw a fit because of pain. However, she didn't regret what she'd done to him.
She hadn't seen him since they made the deal and wondered how he was faring. She could only hope that Lennox would recover and truly find a reason to continue living. There's no doubt he would need to undergo rehabilitation later.
"It's fine. You don't have to apologize for every single thing Mr. Qin does. It's not right for you to take responsibility for his actions and decisions." Adrienne said nonchalantly, tapping the documents lying on top of the table.
Gavin laughed and didn't expect Adrienne to point this out so brazenly. Others would have cowered in fear dealing with the two of them, but Adrienne was brave enough to push Lennox every time. He could see how this young lady could pique Lennox's interest.
"By the way, do you have a plan on how to convince Samantha's mother to sign away her custody rights to Lennox? With her situation, she might claim that we tricked her into signing these papers while intoxicated. It won't do well if she is persistent in creating trouble for Samantha later." He asked, curious as to how Adrienne would proceed after this.
Adrienne was an unpredictable person. He found out that Adrienne had beaten Samantha's classmates without hesitation. Others would have turned away, and if they couldn't, they would merely try to take Samantha away instead of beating the other girls.
Adrienne hummed and raised her hand to call Myrtle to order. Her friend easily noticed her and excused herself from her co-worker at the counter. Adrienne suspected that Myrtle was smitten by Gavin. She regretted not knowing this in her previous life.
"I already have a plan, but I need Samantha's cooperation. Did you bring the thing I asked you to last night?" She asked in return. There was something she specifically asked him for last night.
If things go according to plan, she could use this to ensure Lennox would gain Samantha's custody, and then she could move on to find the next child immediately.
"I did," Gavin answered before placing a small paper bag on the table. "Why would you need something like this?"
Adrienne smirked and checked inside the bag, pleased with what she saw.
"This will do. Thank you for your cooperation, Mr. Si. This would make the transition of Samantha's custody easier, as long as we have her full cooperation." She said with confidence.
Gavin stared at her momentarily and nodded. He could only wait and see how this would unfold later. Lennox's relatives hadn't noticed anything yet, which was good. It would complicate things for Adrienne if they decided to intervene.
Myrtle came and nervously took their order, which Adrienne noticed. She had known Myrtle for years, so how could she not find her friend's actions suspicious? She could sense the nervousness coming from Myrtle as she spoke to Gavin, who remained calm throughout their interaction. Myrtle hurriedly left once she got their order.
Adrienne fell silent. Her suspicion of Dylan's father rose as she looked at Gavin and Myrtle. She didn't know what to feel about the possibility of Gavin being Dylan's father, but she couldn't do anything about it if he were.
She had no right to question Myrtle now as the situation was quite different from the past. Still, the possibility of Elise using the same method remained. The thought disturbed her. Should she take some precautions just in case Elise comes after Myrtle?
No… it's impossible for her to know what Elise was thinking, but she had Camilla by her side, and it wouldn't take too long before Elise learned from her mother.
Samantha overslept and missed school. Though she disliked going to school because of her mean classmates, she still forced herself to wake up early and drag her feet to attend her classes every day. It was the first time she had a sleepover, though her companions were clearly not around when she woke up.
She found a note written by Adriene on the dining table with two paper bags containing a change of clothes and some food for her to eat. She sat down and ate in silence, occasionally glancing at the time. It was ten in the morning, and she knew it would take some time before Adrienne and Myrtle returned from school.
After finishing her meal and cleaning Myrtle's kitchen, Samantha bathed and decided to do her homework and review for an upcoming exam. She had already brought inconvenience to Adrienne and Myrtle, and she didn't want to be seen as useless by her older brother.
Her pen stopped as she thought about it. Samantha knew that she wasn't the only child Richard Qin had out of wedlock. She wasn't sure how many were out there, but she knew who Lennox Qin was.
When she was younger, she searched for Lennox Qin online and was surprised at how outstanding he was. At a young age, he had been an exceptional student - earning multiple awards in local and international competitions. Even when he turned eighteen, Lennox had already been involved in and was working at Qin Corporation - earning decent money for himself.
Samantha knew she wasn't anything like him, but she wanted to be self-sufficient. They shared the same father, but clearly, they were both raised differently. One was given everything, while the other was kicked to the curb and abandoned. Their upbringing was different, and their chances in life were complete opposites despite sharing the same father.
Then suddenly, Lennox came into her life through Adrienne. Was it because of their father's sudden death, or was there another reason for it?
Samantha pushed these thoughts aside and continued studying. She wasn't good at anything but studying. However, she couldn't stop thinking of the unknown. Given her living arrangements, her grades were inconsistent with her actual ability in school. Her life was about to change, yet she was scared of what would await her after this. She wasn't oblivious to the internal war within the Qin family and what would happen to her if she got involved with him.
It was already 2 PM when she lowered her pen after hearing her stomach grumble. She went to the fridge and heated her lunch in the microwave, checking her phone with a broken screen for any messages, but there were none. Her mother would throw a fit if she found out she wasn't home.
'It doesn't matter. She would find another reason to beat me anyway.'
After waiting for two more hours, the front door opened, revealing Adrienne with her driver bringing several bags with them. Samantha recognized the few famous brands and logos printed on them. Was this a common occurrence for a young mistress from a wealthy family? It must have cost Adrienne a fortune for all of these purchases.
"Myrte wouldn't be home until seven, so I came home before her. See if the clothes are to your liking, Sam." Adrienne said once she sent her driver off.
Samantha was frozen in place upon hearing that.
"These are for me?" She asked incredulously. "Addie, you shouldn't have bothered to spend money on me."
"Who said I was the one who paid for it, dear?" Adrienne chuckled as she dropped her school bag on the chair and pulled one of the bags from the floor.
"It's on your brother's tab. I didn't spend a single dime on it, but I was the one who chose them all." She added.
"But I…" Samantha found herself rendered speechless.
"Don't worry about it. Since your brother insisted on getting your custody from your mother, it's only natural that he provides your necessities." Adrienne paused for a moment, considering her next words. "I should have asked you first if you are okay with it. How do you feel about it, Sam?"
Samantha sat down, her hands on her lap.
"I-I'm not sure, Addie." She admitted. "I don't know whether I should trust him or not."
"You don't need to." Adrienne replied, earning a surprised look from the young lady.
"The world isn't fair. You should know this by now. However, you also have a choice to change your future. You don't need to put your trust in anyone but yourself. You're fifteen now and you'll reach legal age in a few years. Although eighteen is still young, you can decide for yourself. Lennox agreed to look after you until you are old enough to support yourself." She continued to explain.
"But Mom doesn't have anyone but me…" Samantha murmured. "I cannot just abandon her."
"But she can abandon you? How is it alright for a mother to let her daughter fend for herself at such a young age? You and I both know what's in your mother's heart."
Adrienne understood that it wouldn't be easy for Samantha to let go of her mother.
Samantha fell silent. How can she not know? From the moment she was born, her mother only had her father in her heart. Everything was about her father, and she had never received maternal love from her.
"Even if I want to, Mom won't allow me to leave, Addie. She would surely try to ask my brother for more money. She thinks that the Qin family owed her money because of me."
"That's why I need your cooperation, Sam. I want you to think about your future and what you want to do. You don't need to endure this kind of life when you have a chance to leave it behind. I know how to help you free yourself from your mother."
She then handed the thing she asked from Gavin.
"Only you can decide, Sam. You'll face many difficulties and losses in life, but never allow yourself to lose."